Government Welfare Pensions Distributed Through UDF Election Committee Office in Malappuram, Sparking Controversy

Malappuram: A controversy has erupted in Malappuram after welfare pensions were reportedly distributed from a UDF election committee office, in violation of government guidelines that require pension benefits to be delivered directly to beneficiaries at their homes.

The incident was reported from Karaparamba in Pulpatta, where elderly beneficiaries and others were asked to come to a UDF election committee office to collect their pension payments. Videos of the incident have also surfaced.

According to reports, the distribution was carried out under the supervision of Akbar, an official of the Pulpatta Service Cooperative Bank, along with Panchayat President N K Fousiya and Youth League local office-bearer Vahid.

Under the existing system, the government provides an additional ₹30 per pension payment—₹25 for the distribution agent and ₹5 for the bank—to ensure that pensions are delivered directly to beneficiaries' homes. Despite receiving this allowance, those responsible for distribution required beneficiaries to travel to the party office to collect their payments.

During the previous LDF administration, welfare pensions were delivered directly to recipients at their residences through a door-to-door distribution mechanism.

With pension payments reportedly delayed beyond the festival period despite assurances that they would be disbursed before Eid, many beneficiaries chose to collect the money without protest. However, the decision to have recipients queue up outside a political party office has drawn criticism from local residents, who argue that welfare benefits should be distributed through neutral and official channels rather than party-affiliated venues.